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Saluting our Teachers
Everyone has a favoriteRealtor® teacher or two while growing Heightsup. As part of our special World of Learning Specialist section, & we turned to our local schools to find out which Oak teachers Forestreceived nods as Teachers Residentof the Year. Join us as we salute our accomplished educators and wish Lauren Worrall them luck in potentially 512.585.1476 being named HISD’s Teacher of worrallproperties.com the Year.
Find it on 3A
Covering Heights, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Inside the Today: It’sGarden a tacoOaks, takeover in this week’s food section • Page 1B Saturday, April 16, 2016 • Vol. 62 • No. 16
Flower & Gift Shop 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350
Stop in and see what’s
Parents want Love elementary to become On a magnet Sale!
her experience at Love and because of her daughter’s positive reaction during a school tour, Erdini is sending her to Love in the Ebru Erdini is zoned to Love Elementary, fall. Flower & Gift Shop “My daughter loved the name,” said Erbut says she never really gave it a chance. 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350 dini. “The staffForest is very friendly. wants “I was awarethe of negative thingsGarden on the fo- Oaks, Covering Heights, Oak & the She neighborhoods of North Houston rums,” she said. “I knew it was other parents to go right now. I like that she’s going to be Saturday, 21, 2016 Vol.dual 62 language • No. 21 fluentMay in Spanish with• the like me, on the outside looking in. I wanted program.” to know more.” That’s not all Erdini is doing. Recently, she That opportunity came when she sent her special needs youngest child, to the spearheaded an online petition on Change. Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills pro- org called Magnet for Love Elementary. Bythe Jonathan As the letter with the petition states: gram, or PALS, at school. Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com “In two weeks he was a completely differ- “[Love] needs an influx of new effective ent child,” said Erdini. “I felt a bit guilty. We educational tools to encourage diversity. In A never new name with it needs to be designated and funded had givenfor it aReagan chance.”High School comesshort a new of challenges as supporters origiHISD to become a Magnet School.” Her set oldest child attended Harvard ofEl-the by nal name are their case to the courtThe idea is that by getting a magnet desigementary andhoping now istoattake Hamilton Middle Photo by betsy Denson room challenge the districtwent andtotheir nation, Love will get the financial resources School.and Her middle daughter the approval Love Elementary has room for 80 more children. Most students come from of changing the name of eight schools named after paid Pre-K program at Harvard last year the school zone, but the hope is that if Love becomes a magnet, the school Confederate figures. and was accepted into the gifted and talentSee Magnet P. 5A will be more attractive to those outside the zone. The HISD Board of Trustees voted in favor of a ed program there for Kinder. But because of measure to change Reagan High School to Heights High School with seven in favor, two abstentions and one absent at a board meeting May 12. The meeting was heavily attended by members of the community, including RHS alumni who supported keeping the name. The supporters say they will work to begin legal proceedings against the district and its The expression says it all - the resolution. beloved “Climbing Tree” in Wayne Dolcefino, president of Dolcefino ConsultCandlelight Park is now nothing, said the district has not acted in the best interests ing more than a stump in the of residents in regards to the vote. On his website, ground, leaving more questions Houston attorney Dan Goforth is quoted as saying By Jonathan Garris than answers for this girl and jgarris@theleadernews.com Photo by Jonathan Garris others in the area who enjoyed Frank Chavez (center) talks with a local TV news reporter the presence of the oldbefore tree. the May 12 HISD Board of Trustees meeting in See Name P. 7A which the board approved a measure to rename eight schools in HISD named after Confederate figures.Oaks MainMembers of the Garden tenance Organization are clearing up misunderstandings about a lawsuit filed by a local homeowner regarding the group’s deed restrictions, a suit which is expected to have a final decision from a judge some time this week or next. A post to the Garden Oaks community By website provides Jonathan Garrisdetails into the jgarris@theleadernews.com current status of the ongoing lawsuit. GOMO had originally brought a lawsuit against Peter andHigh-Speed Katherine Members of the Houston Chang in 2012 in an effort to enforce Rail Watch will make an appeal beforea restriction prohibiting structures citydeed council next week to ensure their on residential “other than [a] one voices are heardplots during the city’s ongosingle-family not of to ingdetached process to explore thedwelling possibility exceed two storiesstation in height one having a downtown forand theaproor two carCentral garage.”Railway, connecting posed Texas A representative GOMOrail. said Houston and Dallas viawith high-speed that what remains outstanding of at this Alicia Nuzzie, a representative the point watch is whether or not citizens group, saidattorney’s residents fees livawarded to the and ingwill in be neighborhoods like Chang’s Oak Forest amount whether GOMOothcan andtheir Garden Oaksand (among numerous its authority to enforceindeed ersexercise across Houston represented the restrictions are on still theirconcerned property. about Other organization) in the community, particutheresidents city’s pursuance of a downtown stop thosetrain. whoThe attended a February forlarly a bullet Federal Railroad community meeting, voiced their concern that the decision would apply to See Rail P. 7A the GOMO all properties; however By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Supporters rally behind Reagan High School name
Decision in GOMO suit coming soon
So long, dry laws?
Residents appeal to city officials over high-speed rail
See GOMO P. 5A
beloved Candlelight Park tree vanishes
Photo by Christina Martinez The rows of beer and wine at the Kroger on 43rd Street may soon be duplicated at different stores in the Heights, if a newly formed political action committee gets its way and alters existing dry laws in the Heights area with a petition drive and vote.
By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Heights PAC seeks to legalize beer, wine sales in area
Yale Street Bridge rebuild to begin By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
2016
It was the case of the disappearing tree. An Oak Forest While some might be sad to see By Betsy Densonto Candlelight Park about what may happen. resident recently took his daughter it go, TxDOT officials are ready and First things first. Steve Reilley, a partner at law firm to check out thebetsy@theleadernews.com progress of the trees the city planted to willing to begin the demolition of Thompson & Reilley and spokesperson for the Houston replace the ones killed by the drought of 2011. the historic Yale Street Bridge in the US House of A“But newly formedhave political committee in the we always to visitaction ‘The Climbing Tree’, an Heights Beverage Coalition Political Action Committee, Heights. Representatives Texas Rescue Crisis Heights is ramping up to oak altertree,” the area’s infamous dry said that he lives in the dry part of the Heights – defined old, crooked, and beautiful the father said. “Any The 85-year-old bridge over the 18th Congressional District laws, andknows the ripples from knows that effort open door roughly as 26th Street to the north and White Oak Bayou kid that the park thiswould tree for its the majesty Local non-profit Rescued White Oak Bayou come fallNominate yourwill favorite to new grocery stores in the historic area. and entry-level climbing opportunity. Most times we are to the south, Durham to the west and Oxford Street on the Pets OnlyMovement Republicanis now ing down, so to speak, despite being businesses to help According to strolls officials, application the City Sec- east side – and was asked by neighbors to get a petition there, a woman thean park by herselftooffering friendfacing financial Candidate That difficulties named as one of only seven us bridges retary by One an entity the about Houston ly hellos. day I called asked her the Heights climbingBeverage tree and going. asWill it continues Beat Sheliaits efforts to in the Houstonour areatop on the National determine choices If the group gathers approximately 1,500 signatures in Coalition Political Action seeks to gather she told us that the tree Committee was an adult specimen in sigthe rescue strayLee cats and dogs Jackson Register of Historic Places befor readers across theafter area! natures for a petition to legalize 1950s, when she moved here.” the “sale of beer and wine 60 days state law says that the item can be put on the Noacross the Houston area. ing added in 2011, according to the Run-Off Vote forOf off-premise dry part of the course onconsumption a recent visitonly” they in hadthetrouble finding it vember ballot for a vote of those who currently live in the group’s website. A sign placed at the MayFind 24, 2016 it on 2A Heights. With a vacant grocery store in the dry area on because it didn’t exist – because only the stump remains. bridge indicates it will be closed April Paid Pol. Ad By Bartley For Congress, Treasurer, Dean Bartley North Drivewith and reasons the neverwhy ending media “MyShepherd mind raced suchsocial a decision Find 18 through Dec.it31on 2017.2B See Dry P. 4A call for be another H-E-B,tothere is a lot Liabilities of speculation would made local - proximity the street? over According to a TxDOT report from climbing? Whatever the reason I am beside myself and 2014, inspectors deemed the bridge my children are the definition of sad.” functionally obsolete in 2013. The FLOOR MATS 2014 TOYOTA7A Church This family was not the only one. COROLLA: Asking $70. Front, proposed replacement bridge would 7B Classifieds “My daughter was so upset when this tree was cut back, trunk. Very nice. 832-231be designed with a “12-foot-wide out5A 5173. Coupons down,” said Cindy Madi. “She was almost in tears.” side lane, an 11-footwide inside lane, The Leader to find out why. After a callMulti-service to with. centers provide variByendeavored Jonathan Garris and a 8-foot-wide sidewalk in each 1B Food/Drink/Art Find More Inside The Public Works, who confirmed the take down was part ousnotprograms and services to communities jgarris@theleadernews.com direction on the bridge” following 8A Obituaries of one of their Capital Improvement Projects, the answer the city, including programs for Classifieds Page 4B throughout public input. In order to meet federal 4A Opinion was foundtraveling at the Houston Parks Boulevard and Recreation departseniors, daycare services and rental space. Those along Heights and state crash rating requirements, “It’s a great way for us to give back to the might notice a bit of added color to the 2A Public Information West End Multi-Service of community,” Kahnert said. “Keller Williams Contributed Photos See Bridge P. 2A 4A Puzzles SeeCenter, Tree P.courtesy 5A workTree” as ahad group and of support from youngsters and some help from its staff and the Keller Wil- does a lot of volunteer “The Climbing no lack 9B Sports this is one wayadults for usalike. to all get together and liams RED Day last weekend. About 100 volunteers with Keller Williams serve the neighborhood as a group.” 6A Church Keller Williams’ RED Day, which stands Realty assisted West End MSC with various 4B Classifieds duties, including cleaning up hedges, paint- for “Renew, Energize and Donate” accord5A Coupons ing fences, pruning flower and plant beds ing to the organization’s website is its annuaround the building and other assistance. al day of service. This year, volunteers got 1B Food/Drink/Art their hands dirty repairing a walking trail, Cameron volunteer Experienced community bankersCydney, providing valuecoordinator to 4A Obits with the Houston Health Foundation, said painting a sign for the daycare center and Houston business owners. stopyear by Keller – we Williams want tohas trimming the landscape around the West 3A Opinion this Please is the second worked with the Houston Health Depart- End MSC. YLVLW ZLWK \RX DQG ¿QG RXW KRZ ZH FDQ KHOS \RXU EXVLQHVV 2A Public Information Contributed Photo “The facility had fallen into disrepair,” Volunteers with Keller Williams worked to prune garden beds like these ment. 3A Puzzles Peggi Kahnert, an organizer with Keller Kahnert said. “We were happy to be of ser- around the West End Multi-Service Center located at 170 Heights Blvd. as / 5 $P\ 5LWWHU ± %DQN 2I¿FHU /HQGHU 0DUJDUHW 9DQGHYHU ± 693 /HQGHU 6FRWW /HVWHU ± %DQN 7B Sports Williams, said this is the second multi- vice to the community and it makes us feel part of a national day of community service for the company. 2I¿FH 3UHVLGHQW &HFLOLD 5RGULJXH] ± $93 2I¿FH 0DQDJHU -XVWLQ 9LFNUH\ ± 93 /HQGHU service center the group has helped out good.”
The INDeX.
Keller Williams volunteers have ‘RED Day’ in Heights
The INDEX.
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